Governor Jay Nixon signed several bills into law, including one designed to prevent identity theft.

The measure makes it a class A misdemeanor to possess stolen credit card information or devises, even if the info or devise has not been used after being stolen. In a written statement, Nixon praised lawmakers for passing the bill, saying it will give law enforcement another tool to use against hackers and identity thieves. It won’t take effect until January.

Another provision of the new law takes effect in August – it makes stealing from a financial institution a class B felony even if violence was not involved. Nixon also signed legislation that lets domestic violence victims keep their current cell phone numbers when they open a new wireless service account. That bill also takes effect in August.